What I’ve learned in rural Saskatchewan is that there are some similarities between city and country folk. But I've also discovered a few myths.

The flow of city traffic, Anne Hines says, will likely remind her of the sound of wind through prairie grass.

By:Anne HinesSpecial to the Star, Published on Sat Jun 02 2012

LUCKY LAKE, SASK.—Two years ago I moved here from downtown Toronto to serve as a minister in the United Church of Canada. This was certainly a change. I’m a city girl through and through. When I moved to the country, I was worried I might pass out from all the clear, clean air. Someone would have to administer smog.

Though the city is my home, the country has been my classroom. Travelling to new places always teaches us something. For instance, when my mother travelled overseas last year, she was annoyed to learn that only one company in Europe would rent a car to someone over the age of 80. For my part, I was sorry to learn there was even one.

What I’ve learned in rural Saskatchewan is that there are some similarities between city and country folk. Neither can imagine why the others want to live there. And, I’ve discovered a few myths about country life.

No. 1: no stress.

When I lived in Toronto, I often thought we should stop arguing about whether the government should continue lacing our drinking water with fluoride. Instead, we should demand that they spike it with Valium. Frankly, we Torontonians are anxious.

Being in a rural community has made me realize, though, that I knew nothing about stress. True stress is not fretting about whether the car ahead of me will run the red light in time for me to also run the red light. Or that the line at Starbucks is so long, I’ll be at my appointment at 8:17 instead of 8:15.

Real stress is having a $500,000 combine in your yard and five centimetres of water on your fields.

No. 2: no crime.

The first time I left Lucky Lake (pop. 295), I mentioned to neighbours that I’d given my key to Mavis across the street. They exchanged concerned looks and I began to wonder whether sweet, grandmotherly Mavis was actually the town kleptomaniac. Finally someone said, “You locked your door?”

That doesn’t mean there’s no crime here. Recently, in nearby Birsay, the town hall was defaced with graffiti. The RCMP suspect gangs. Debate raged among local coffee clutches as to whether the entire population of Birsay, which totals 40 adults, children and octogenarians, is enough to make one decent gang. Someone suggested, “Well, maybe, but who would they war with?” This is seeding time. Everyone’s busy.

No. 3: no fun.

Entertainment? The annual Birsay Turkey Shoot. No turkeys are harmed at this event. No turkeys are actually present, except frozen ones to be given as prizes. There is a game involving a live chicken, though. Participants “purchase” one of 40 squares drawn on a paper, which is then slid into the cage under the chicken. Whichever name the bird’s poop lands on, wins. City folk likely find this an odd way to spend leisure money. Out here we find it odd to pay far more money for the roughly equal delight of seeing whether the Leafs will manage to land a shot. And, of course, the odds are better with the chicken.

No. 4: there’s no place like home.

After two years, there are still things I don’t understand about rural life in this province. I’ll never figure out how women hold down jobs, cook for entire harvest crews, get their kids to a baseball game in a town two hours away and still make sure no store-bought cookie ever turns up on a table after a church service or funeral. Or why such fiercely independent people, who view the concept of “daylight-saving time” as unnecessary government interference, are also deeply committed to SaskPower, SaskTel, SaskEnergy and the Wheat Board.

What I have learned is that home is definitely where your heart is. And that a heart can be stretched just like a life view; made big enough to include both our country’s largest city and one of our smallest towns. When I return to Toronto, I suspect the office towers will remind me of grain elevators. And the ebb and flow of traffic will sound like the sweep of wind through prairie grass. So, there really is “no place like home.” And, for me, I think home is wherever I find kindness, open hearts and generosity of spirit. And so far, that’s everywhere.

Anne Hines is author of five books and numerous articles.

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